CO129-595-1 Anti-British feeling in China- memorandum by J V Braga 15-2-1946 - 15-8-1946 — Page 29

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knowledge, not without foundation, of them, a knowledge which finds expression in a recent letter from one who wrote: "People at llome may be gulled by the screne suavity of a Lin Yutang, but I have little respect for that country of diseace, dirt and disorder, and that people who, in their dealings with one another, exploit or are exploited to an extent almost unbelievable by bribery and corruption, smuggling and profiteering, treachery and cunning. Anyone who knows China today is aware that Pearl Buck's Open Letter to the Chinese People holds good in 1946, in these respects, just as it did on the date of publication."

I have referred to British 'snall bosses' from India. The British in India have been 'white masters' and their attitude towards the 'native' of India is not the concern of this memorandum, but I mention it since such an attitude towards the 'native' in India has been imported to Hong Kong, with unfortunate results.

Then I shall not forget the opinion of Dr. L, formerly Chinese ambassador to London: "I love England, and the people of England,

but not the average Britisher out here. We Chinese have an old proverb, If you want to know a man, give him power, ' In this Colony, the policy of placing British young men in positions as minor 'taipans' simply because they are British and regardless of their qualifications and ability to control mon, has been most

Little wonder that power goes to their heads and these young fellows become despots, who show by their behaviour that they are not fitted to rule others and who oloak their incompetence with a show of racial superiority.

unwise.

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